High Inquisitor

Outside the office, several employees stood frozen as if struck by a Petrification Curse. Terror showed on their faces as they stared at the tightly shut door.

But none of the expected roaring or smashing sounds came from inside.

"You showed him that?" an older-looking employee asked Percy Weasley beside him.

"Yes... He asked me to bring it to him. I had no choice..." Percy Weasley looked utterly terrified.

Early that morning, the moment the Ministry of Magic staff saw those newspapers, they immediately collected every paper in the Ministry carrying those reports, all to keep Fudge from finding out.

But Fudge was bound to learn about something like this sooner or later. As long as they were not the ones who delivered the news to him, they would be safe.

The older employee sighed worriedly, then shot Percy Weasley a quick glance. A trace of schadenfreude flashed through his eyes.

Suddenly, the sharp, hurried clatter of high heels striking the floor rang out, and a pink figure entered everyone's view.

"Do none of you have work to do?" The newcomer was, of course, Umbridge. No one else in the Ministry of Magic deliberately dressed in such gaudy colors.

She looked anxious, but the moment she noticed everyone craning their necks to look this way, she immediately resumed her haughty posture.

After being rebuked, everyone promptly lowered their heads and busied themselves with who knew what.

Umbridge swept her gaze across them, then turned and entered the Minister's office.

The moment she entered, she saw Fudge's deathly pale face.

"Minister!" she shrieked, then hurried over.

Where was Fudge's usual ministerial dignity now? He trembled like a startled quail.

"It's over... It's over..." Fudge kept muttering.

As a seasoned politician who cared deeply about his political record, such reports were far